WASD Assistant Director Bertha Goldenberg appointed to national water industry "Blue Ribbon Commission"

MIAMI (February
24, 2017) —

Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) Assistant Director Bertha Goldenberg was recently appointed to a National Blue Ribbon Commission overseen by the U.S. Water Alliance and Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF) to study the benefits of Onsite Non-potable Water Systems. She is one of only 30 representatives from municipalities, public health agencies, water utilities and national organizations to serve on the commission and the only representative from the state of Florida.

As water supplies become more strained, climate change persists, and populations grow, communities are looking for new ways to develop and manage local water supplies and increase the resiliency of water infrastructure. Onsite water systems collect wastewater, storm water, rainwater, and more, and treat it so that it can be reused in a building or at the local scale for non-potable needs such as irrigation, toilet flushing, and cooling.

Over the next two years, the National Blue Ribbon Commission will develop state and federal guidelines based on best practices underway in local communities and world-class research to support local implementation of onsite non-potable water systems. The commission will also identify new opportunities for water utilities to facilitate implementation of onsite non-potable systems.

“I’m honored to serve on this commission,” said Goldenberg. “I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences to contribute to the development of the guidelines that will have a Florida perspective so they are applicable to our region so that it works for everyone.”

Once established, Goldenberg said, implementing non-potable water systems in new, large building facilities would provide savings of drinking water that would no longer be needed for the flushing of toilets, irrigation or facility cooling systems; and reuse credits. WASD would receive reuse credits towards the reuse requirements of Florida’s Ocean Outfall Legislation requirements.

It is the priority of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to provide safe, reliable service to its customers. For additional information about Department services and programs, visit the department’s website.

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